Reserves v Morton
Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019SPFL Reserve League: Gary Oliver (19) 1-0, Kieran Brophy (32) 2-0: Callum Smith (52) 2-1: Callum Smith (58 pen.) 2-2. Lewis McCann (62) 2-3: Lewis McCann (77) 2-4: Gregor Jordan (89) 2-5:
MORTON RESERVES 2 DUNFERMLINE RESERVES 5
Dunfermline travelled to meet Morton on the south bank of the River Clyde at the Parklea Playing Fields, Port Glasgow on Tuesday lunchtime for this SPFL Reserve League match. It was another young side fielded by Greg Shields with first team subs Matt Todd, Lewis McCann and Callum Smith in the team. Craig Burt started in goal with Cammy Gill on the bench.
Recognisable first team squad players in the Morton starting eleven were Gary Oliver and Lewis Strapp who is currently on loan to Annan Athletic.
Pars Lewis McCann had an early chance but sent his first minute header over the bar. Then two of Morton`s three Lewis`s threaten. Bell fired his ninth minute goal wide and then two minutes later McGrattan fired his effort straight into Burt.
Dunfermline`s attempts came next from Lewis Sawers but his shot from a Smith pass was blocked. Sawers was then caught offside and Josh Robertson delivered a 17th minute free kick that the`Ton cleared. Burt saved from Dykes before Todd threatened for the visitors.
Things began to go wrong when OLIVER opened the scoring to put Morton into a 19th minute lead with a looping header from the left. 1-0
The Fifers response was a shot from Todd that keeper Chris Wylie gathered. Then Smith caused problems from a wayward Morton clearance but was wide with the shot and four minutes later in 27th minute his low cross was defended out by Morton.
A good run from McCann teed up Smith for another crack but that came back to Swanson who sent the follow up wide. Burt was out of his box to head clear on the half hour, saved from McGrattan next minute but then could only parry away Keelan O`Connell`s attempt and Kieran BROPHY slotted away number two. 2-0
Stuart Morrison headed away another Morton attempt after good work by Oliver and then the Pars central defender headed a Dykes free kick behind for a Morton corner.
It had been a hard shift for the young Dunfermline side, Morton enjoyed the majority of the play but there were still chances for the Pars.
Half time: Morton Reserves 2 Dunfermline Reserves 0
There might have been some who thought it was all over at the break but a little like Twickenham last weekend the second half was to witness a fantastic turn around.
Morton looked as though they might continue their dominance with Dykes hitting early second half efforts over the crossbar and wide of Burt`s left hand post. In seventh minute of the half a good ball from Robertson to Todd allowed a cross that was blocked only for SMITH to follow up for a close range opener for the Fifers. 2-1
Still Morton tried to increase their tally with Burt parrying away a McGrattan shot for a corner on the right that Paul Allan cleared. Then both O`Connor and Oliver popped shots over the Pars bar before the visitors were awarded a 58th minute penalty. Sawers cross was handled in the box by Strapp and SMITH stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way and it was all square at 2-2.
A third goal in the space of ten minutes was then to send the Fifers into the lead. Allan did well to pick up the ball midway into the Morton half and when he found McCANN inside the box the striker slotted it home. 2-3
As if things had not got bad for the home side they then had two men red carded in the next seven minutes. Strapp was shown yellows for two fouls on McCann in 63 and 68 minutes and then in 69 Lewis McGrattan followed him into the dressing room.
A break by Todd set up McCANN for a fourth Dunfermline goal and it remained one way traffic for the rest of the match. Todd and subs Paul Brown and Liam Newton came close. The `Ton keeper had done particularly well to keep out Newton with a great save but in 89 minutes a mistake from the stopper allowed Gregor JORDAN the opportunity to get on the scoresheet from a high ball to the back post. 2-5
Some second half!
- - Listen to Greg Shields post match thoughts
SUBS NOT USED: Darren Hynes, Jack Purdue, Jonathan Lyon, Shaun Rodgers
SCORERS: Oliver (19), Brophy (32)
YELLOW CARD: Strapp (65), Watt (78)
RED CARD: Strapp (68), McGrattan (69)
DUNFERMLINE: Craig Burt: Josh Robertson, Stuart Morrison, Gregor Jordan, Kieran Swanson: Callum Smith (Paul Brown 79), Paul Allan, Matthew Todd, Lewis Sawers (Lucas Berry 75): Brandon Luke (Liam Newton 75), Lewis McCann
SUBS NOT USED: Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Smith (52, 58 pen.), McCann (62, 77), Jordan (89)
YELLOW CARD: Allan (74), Robertson (75)
REFEREE: Craig Napier
WEATHER: Cloudy 9°C
ATTENDANCE
NEXT MATCH: SPFL Reserve League (away) v Dundee United at St Andrews, Monday 25th March kick off 1.30pm
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